When a TV show or event is aired at the same time in both Canada and the United States, TV providers (such as Shaw) must air the Canadian channel's feed over that of the American channel's feed. This is called simultaneous substitution (simsub) and it means that Canadian ads will be seen on both the Canadian and American channels.

However, the CRTC ruled in 2016 that the ads on the Super Bowl's American feed are "an integral element of the event" and has exempted the Super Bowl from simultaneous substitution. That means that if you tune in to the American channel, you will see the American ads.

Bell (which owns CTV, the channel that the Super Bowl airs on in Canada) and the NFL took the CRTC to court but the court ruled in favour of the CRTC.

But there's still over a month to go until Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017. A lot can happen before then.

When a TV show or event is aired at the same time in both Canada and the United States, TV providers (such as Shaw) must air the Canadian channel's feed over that of the American channel's feed. This is called simultaneous substitution (simsub) and it means that Canadian ads will be seen on both the Canadian and American channels.

However, the CRTC ruled in 2016 that the ads on the Super Bowl's American feed are "an integral element of the event" and has exempted the Super Bowl from simultaneous substitution. That means that if you tune in to the American channel, you will see the American ads.

Bell (which owns CTV, the channel that the Super Bowl airs on in Canada) and the NFL took the CRTC to court but the court ruled in favour of the CRTC.

But there's still over a month to go until Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017. A lot can happen before then.